Nut Sorting

Increasing profitability

Bühler provides optical sorting solutions for nut processors who demand the highest standards of safety, hygiene and quality. With a focus on maximising the yield, the SORTEX range is able to sort many varieties of nuts; peanuts, almonds, walnuts, pecans, pistachios, cashews, macadamias, hazelnuts, pine nuts and many others. With over 20,000 SORTEX installations in 140 countries worldwide, commitment to substantial investment in R&D ensures that its advanced optical sorting technology produces excellent results in removing even the most challenging of nut defects and foreign material.

Setting new standards of safety and hygiene

The SORTEX range delivers high efficiency in the removal of defective nuts; rotten, decayed, discoloured, insect damaged and mouldy nuts.
Excellent results in removing even the most challenging defects such as shell, hull, membrane, stones, mud balls, sticks, glass and other foreign materials.
Reduction of aflatoxin levels through the efficient removal of defects known to carry the Fungus Aspergillus Flavus
An open design and stainless steel construction is available in the SORTEX E series, allowing hygienic operation and easy cleaning.

Maximising the value and yield

Precise colour detection and size grading achieves uniform appearance and added value.
A combination of advanced custom-built technologies; broad spectrum lighting, high resolution visible cameras, InGaAs (SWIR) and PROfile technology, ensures the selection of the highest quality of nut products.
State of the art ejector technology minimises the false ejection of good nuts.
Gentle product handling design minimises damage to good product.
Simultaneous resort option allows the recovery of good product from the reject stream.
Reverse sorting capability allows extensive recovery of good product from the reject with over 50% contamination level.

Consistent performance and stability

Consistent performance and a reliable operation with automatic calibration and wiping, maintaining a clean optical viewing area.
For maximum stability, the Climate Control System option maintains a constant temperature in key areas, for operation in extreme ambient temperature ranges.

Multiple, configurable machine options

Modular design options make up to five sizes available, to suit processors with capacity requirements ranging from 0.5-14 tonnes/hour.
A combination of advanced custom-built technologies allows the sorting of multiple size nuts, at various stages of the process, such as in-shell, natural, blanched, roasted, pieces.
The Graphical User Interface (GUI) enables fast product changeovers and covers a wide range of pre-stored product modes.

Increased productivity and lower operational costs

Assisted by the Anyware remote connection, SORTEX engineers can respond quickly in support of a machine, maximising uptime.
Lower power consumption reduces operational costs.
Solid-state optics, low-cost illumination devices and no requirement for inert gas purging.